ATP: Federer stunned by Argentine qualifier

ROGER AND OUT:World No. 114 Federico Delbonis beat the former world No. 1 to set up a final against Fabio Fognini after the Italian defeated Nicolas Almagro

AFP, HAMBURG, Germany

Argentina’s Federico Delbonis returns to Roger Federer of Switzerland in their German Open semi-final in Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday.

Photo: EPA

Roger Federer was stunned by Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis, the world No. 114, in the Hamburg clay-court semi-finals on Saturday as the 17-time Grand Slam title winner suffered another worrying loss.

The former world No. 1 went down 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4) to 22-year-old Delbonis with the defeat coming just a month after Federer was knocked out of Wimbledon by Ukraine’s world No. 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round.

Delbonis plays Fabio Fognini in the final after the Italian 12th seed reached his second successive ATP Tour final by beating Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 7-6 (7/1).

“I think he was a bit better than me today,” Federer said. “It’s clearly a pity I couldn’t win either of the sets because I was starting to feel better towards the end of the match, but unfortunately I couldn’t push him further and create more chances.”

Saturday’s defeat will put the 31-year-old Federer under more pressure to justify that he can still be a major force in the sport.

He came into Hamburg, where he had triumphed four times, ranked at five in the world — his lowest position since 2003 — after his Wimbledon humiliation brought to an end a run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances.

Debuting a larger racket frame this week, Federer had twice been pushed to three sets on his way to the semi-finals of the Hamburg clay-court event.

“I don’t think it had much to do with the racket today,” Federer said. “I tried everything I could at this tournament. It’s been a difficult week throughout, but I’m happy I fought through many matches. It gives me the matches I was looking for.”

“I was clearly hoping, after winning a tough one yesterday, to somehow get through today and then give myself an opportunity to win the title tomorrow [Sunday]. It’s disappointing, but defeats like that happen sometimes,” he said. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the final, but nevertheless I did have four good matches and these are the kind of matches I need.”

The Swiss squandered an early break lead against Delbonis and saved two set points in the 12th game to force a tiebreak. He was unable to convert his only set point at 6-5 and Delbonis took his fourth opportunity with a smash.

Federer was put under pressure early in the second set by the left-handed Delbonis, saving three break points in his opening service game and another in the sixth. The Swiss had one chance to break Delbonis in the seventh game as the Argentine’s composure slipped slightly and he let in costly unforced errors.

Federer was denied as Delbonis closed down the net, though, and again came out on the wrong side in the tiebreak. Successive groundstroke errors from Federer at 4-4 gave Delbonis two match points and he converted his first as Federer netted a forehand.

“I feel like I’m dreaming,” Delbonis said. “My key was to enjoy the match and enjoy playing this kind of player, because he’s the best of all time.”

Meanwhile, Fognini was attempting to win his second title in as many weeks after claiming his first ATP Tour trophy the previous weekend in Stuttgart, Germany.